The notion of sharks as fiends with a bottomless appetite for human flesh is a myth.
Sharks are usually opportunistic feeders that favor smaller prey; unless frenzied from starvation or provoked by an unwise person, they have no interest in tussling with a human.
Sharks normally stay out beyond where human beings swim, although certain conditions — such as seasonal feeding, spawning behavior or the steep drop-offs that some species use for hunting — can bring humans and sharks into closer proximity.
But before you cancel your beach day, take a deep breath. The actual risk of death or serious injury from a shark remains incredibly low. Most bites are minor, and unprovoked fatalities are rare.
Still, it’s fascinating (and a little chilling) to explore how and where these shark encounters happen, as well as what draws sharks close to shore.
